Thought to be running unopposed in the Centralia City Council District 3 race, Dan Henderson will now face off against write-in challenger Steve Koreis.

    The two business owners will look to fill the seat being vacated by long-time city councilor Ted Shannon.

    Mariann Zumbuhl, elections supervisor for the Lewis County Auditor’s Office, said it’s not unusual for write-in candidates.

    She added that Koreis’ name will not appear on the ballot, and voters would have to mark the write-in box and fill in his name.

    Coming in late could be seen as a challenge for the newcomer, but there have been several write-in candidates who have historically had success.

    Zumbuhl noted that in the November 2003 general election, write-in candidates for two Mossyrock City Council positions and three Pe Ell City Council positions won in their respective races.

Steve Koreis

    The owner of the Molto Bello Spa Salon in Centralia grew up in Chehalis, but has been a Centralia resident since 1999. He said running for city council isn’t something he’s doing on a whim.

    “I’ve been considering running for city council for some time,” he said. A number of people had approached him for the last month and a half asking him to run, he said, which is why he felt now was the time. “There were a number of people that liked my diplomacy.”

    He said the timing was right for him considering “the way things are in the economy,” among other issues.

    Bringing more people to the table, cooperating more with Chehalis and marketing the city more are some of the goals Koreis has in mind if elected.

    Attracting family wage jobs to the area, however, is Centralia’s number one concern, he said, citing the city’s high unemployment numbers.

    “But with growth comes a myriad of new challenges,” Koreis said.

    Keeping the city’s streets and neighborhoods safe during and after any growth would be essential, he said.

    Chronic flooding was another concern he felt the city would have to continue to try to resolve, he said, noting that his business on Kresky Avenue flooded during the December 2007 flood.

    Koreis plans to walk his district this weekend, admitting that coming in so late in the game will present some challenges.

    “It’s going to be a pretty big task, but I’ve got people willing to help me doorbell,” he said. “And I’m going to go out and meet people and let them know what I’m about.”

Dan Henderson

    The addition of a challenger won’t change anything, says the only person whose name will be on the ballot for this council position.

    Henderson, who owns the Gibson House, a downtown Centralia restaurant, plans on putting together a campaign, but has not figured out the specifics just yet.

    He admitted he doesn’t know much about his new opponent, but said his experience is a major difference between the two, saying he is willing to put his record up against Koreis’.

    Sitting on the planning commission and serving as president of the Downtown Association has groomed him for the position, he said.

    “I’ve learned a lot about the underpinnings of the city, and I’ve had a direct impact on the city already,” he said.

    Among his key goals if elected, Henderson wants to involve more people in issues concerning the city.

    “I’ve demonstrated my ability to work with people across the board,” he said. “Everyone has a voice, and your job is to listen and get them into the public process.”

    He added that being able to look at problems from a “simple citizen’s perspective,” is a strength he would take into the position.

    Henderson said that a concerted effort to develop a cohesive public image of the city was paramount to marketing the city and promoting growth.

    Like Koreis, he believes engaging in responsible growth and planning is important as the city moves forward, adding his experience on the planning commission would be beneficial.

    Responsibly managing the budget moving forward was his last key concern, saying owning a business has given him a “good concept of income and expenses.”

    On the issue of flooding, Henderson said the city is doing everything it can in conjunction with the Chehalis River Basin Flood Authority and other entities and agencies, and that he’d continue to support those efforts.

    Hoping to win the city council seat, Henderson said he only hopes to improve on what’s already here.

    “We have a great community, and our potential is incredible,” he said.

Election 2009: Centralia City Council, District 3

Steve Koreis

Age: 49

Family: Divorced; two children: Cydnie, 23, and Sean, 15

Occupation: Owner of Molto Bello Spa Salon in Centralia

Education: Graduated from W.F. West High School, briefly attended People’s Bible Institute in Tacoma

Previous Electoral Experience: None

Dan Henderson

Age: 40

Family: Single

Occupational History: Owner of the Gibson House, spent three years in the United States Marines

Education: Some college at the University of Idaho

Previous Electoral Experience: Unsuccessfully applied for vacant Centralia City Council seat now filled by Ryan Barrett

    Marqise Allen: (360) 807-8237